Material treating apparatus



Jul 20,1937. c, P, TOLMAN' 2,087,557

IATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1937 IINVEQNTOR Charls B Tolman r ATToRN Patented July 20, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,087,557 MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS Charles P. Toiman, Kew Gardens, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Noble & Wood Machine 00., Hoosick Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 2, 1937, Serial No. 134,461 I 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in material treating apparatus and, more particularly to means therein for readily removing obstructing or oversized material or trash which, by accumulating in the path of movement of paper pulp or similar substance through the machine, interferes with effective operation thereof.

The invention is usefully applied to material treating or pulp refining apparatus, of which various forms are disclosed in applicants copending applications, namely Material treating 717, filed March 28, 1934. Apparatus for treating material is also disclosed in Patent No. 2,042,- 566, issued June 2, 1936 upon the joint application of the present applicant and James T. Coghill, which application was copending with the above mentioned sole applications.

In application Serial No. 529,963, I have described and shown the combination of a rotor cooperating with a plurality of stators to form separate treatment zones through which material to be treated is moved under pressure from a feed chamber in advance of each treatment zone, through the treatment zone and into a discharge chamber.

In said co-pending application, Serial No. 717,717, and in the joint patent aforesaid, 'No. 2,042,566, an efiective device for discharging accumulated particles, trash, or obstructions in the machine has been illustrated and described as a junking device, or junker. In this construction, a junk discharge port is provided in proper or convenient relation to the treatment zone entrance and a suitable valve enables an operator to control the opening and closing of said port so that, while the machine is in operation the obstructing material may be purged through the junk port by actuating the valve. At the same time the pressure exerted upon material in the machine tends to force the obstructing material through the port while the valve is in open position. This arrangement as specifically claimed in said Patent Number 2,042,- 566 is the joint invention of the applicant herein and said James T. Coghill.

The invention forming the subject matter of the present application involves not only the broad concept of a junk discharge port in combination with stuff treating instrumentalities, but also includes means for positively moving the obstructing material away from the place where it accumulates in the machine and expelling it through a port conveniently located for the purpose. It is contemplated that a junker of this type may be used more particularly where the character of the accumulated trash or obstructing material is such that it tends to form a hard packed adherent mass at the entrance to the treating zone, for example, on the forward surface of the stator, or that which is exposed adjacent to the path of the moving stream of material as it enters the treating zone. In such cases, mechanical dislodgement of the ac.- cumulated adhering mass is indicated as efiective for insuring continued operation of the machine. In other words, the type of junking device herein considered more specifically may be used in cases where the result cannot be obtained so effectively by use of the junker or trash discharge valve of said Toiman and Coghili patent.

Various illustrative embodiments of my invention are shown in the drawing appended to the present specification to disclose the essential operative parts in a simplified arrangement, having in mind that different types of refining apparatus with which the junking device may be employed are fully described and illustrated in the patent and theapplications above referred to.

In said drawing, Figure 1 is in part a diagrammatic representation of a junking device in the form of a plunger arranged in operative relation to the rotor, stator; and feed inlet of stufftreatment machine or refiner, and in which parts are shown in section;

Figure 2, a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, a modification wherein the junk dislodging and expelling mechanism includes a rotatable vaned member;

Figure 4, a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5, a diagrammatic view with portions shown in section of a further modification wherein the expelling device is a screw conveyor; and

Figure 6, a section on theline 66 of Figure 5,

Referring to the drawing, the junking or expelling devices are shown in the several figures as incorporated in and forming part of material or stuff treatment machines, such as paper pulp refiners for example, wherein a rotor l cooperates with a stator or shoe 2, as in Figure 1, to form a narrow treatment zone of ordinarily not more than .005 of an inch between said shoe and the peripheral or working surface of the rotor.- The intended treatment of the stuff or material is high speed and the material preferably suspended in a liquid is fed into the machine and through said treatment zone under suitable pres! sure. Various types of machines for this and similar purposes and their modes of operation aredescribed inthe patent and pending applications previously referred to.

The several types of junking or trash expelling devices illustrated in the-drawing of the present application are conveniently supported in the walls of frame 2, as in Figure l, which also form part of the housing'or casing for rotor I and stator 2. The material to be treated is fed into the machine under pressure through an inlet port or conduit, or feed chamber, indicated generally at 4. In the form of apparatus illustrated, said inlet or feed chamber 4 is formed between walls of frame 3 and other walls, as partitions I5 and;

i 6 extending transversely between spaced portlons' of the frame 3.

In normal operation of the machine, oversized particles, foreign materials or particles, and generally all trash or substances which cannot be carried into the treatment zone pile up. or accumulate against the exposed front face of the nose 5 of stator 2 and prevent effective operation of the machine. One important function of the Junking devices herein described is to dislodge such accumulated material and discharge it effectively and with minimum wastage of the material under treatment.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, one wall of frame 3 has a tubular extension 6 forming a trash discharge. conduit and adapted to receive and guide a plunger 1 which also slides in an opening 8 in a wall of frame 3 opposite the inner opening of the extension 6.

Where the plunger 1 is of generally cylindrical cross-sectional shape, as illustrated in the drawing, its outer or forward end has a wall or end piece 9 of similar shape which slidingly engages the inner bore of the extension 8. The rear or following end of plunger 1 is also cylindrical and has a sliding fit in the openingl of frame 2. The end piece or wall 9 and the rearward portion of the plunger 1 are connected by a web I0, producing in effect a cutaway portion or recess within which the trash to be expelled will accumulate during normal operation of the refining machine.

-Means are provided whereby this accumulated trash can readily and effectively be expelled from the machine through the'tubular discharge passage 8; For this purpose, any suitable and convenient mechanism may be employed to. advance and retract the plunger across the stator nose 5 and adjacent portions of the rotor I, as shown in Figure 1. Such mechanism is illustrated diagrammatically by a rack I I secured to the plunger I and actuated by a pinion l2, turned in any desirable manner as by a crank IS, in this case shown as hand operated from a handle l4.

In operation, whenever a suflicient amount of trash material has accumulated adjacent to the nose of the stator 2, or, if desired periodically,

the plunger actuating means will be operated to push the plunger across from left to right as shown in Figure 1, thus carrying the plunger out to the dotted line position to discharge the trash.

The plunger is then retracted to its normal accumulating position as shown in full lines in Figure 1, where it remains until it is necessary to again actuate it to expel the Junk or trash. As shown in Figure 2, the inner end surface of the wall or partition I! may be of curved or cylindrirotates with the helical vane 24. provided with a discharge opening 3| of suitable the web I. thereof.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the trash expeller rotates in the direction of movement of the material under treatment, as differentiated from the transverse direction of movement of the plunger shown in Figures 1 and 2. And the Junk or trash-is discharged from the machine through a port or conduit represented at H between the wall or'partition i I and the stacal shape to form a bearing-for the plunger 1 and tor 2 which. in the form shown in Figure 3, has

a portion of its forward surface shaped to conform to the path of movement of the edges of blades is which are mounted on a shaft is Journalled in the frame I at 20 and 2|, Figure 4.

With this type of Junker, the trash accumulated in normal operation of the machine is dislodged and expelled therefrom by rotating the shaft is and blades II. The outer edges of these blades move across the surfaces on whichtrash has accumulated, dislodge the trash therefrom and dump it through the port or discharge conduit IT. The hand operated crank 22 is one means for turning the shaft II and blades ll. In cases where the trash or material to be expelled is of relatively adherent character or tends to cake on the blades it, it is conveniently dislodged therefrom by suitable means such as one or more jets supplied throughpipes or conduits I4, controlled by a valve, as II, and having their inner end openings at positioned adjacent to the path of movement of the blade edges.

In a further modification, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the trash is discharged laterally through a suitable discharge port.- For this purpose, a screw conveyor comprising a shaft 22 carrying a I helical vane 24 is mounted to turn in suitable bear-' ings in casing 3" and so that edge portions of the vane 24 are moved effectively across the forward face of the nose I" of stator 2" and adjacent portions of the .working face of the rotor I. To

aid the helical vane in more effectively dislodging.

and'expelling trash from the machine, the forward'face of the stator 2" is preferably formed with a substantially cylindrical surface conforming to the contour of the path of movement of the edge of the helical vane 24.

As shown more clearly in Figure 5, the frame 2" has at one side a hub 24 and at the other side another hub 24 adapted to form bearings for cylindrical bearing portions 21 and 24 mounted on'opposite ends of the shaft 23." The hub 26 has an annular interior recess 24 adapted to receive an annular collar 2. which is secured to and Said collar is size and so positioned as to register with a trash discharge port 22. Packing material, as packing ringsv 13, may be provided to minimize leakage,

if any, from or around the bearings of the junking device. 7

In normal operation of the refining machine, junk or trash will accumulateand tend to block the entrance to the treatment zone. To expel such accumulations, the screw conveyor is actuated to dislodge the obstructing material and move it to the left, in Figure 5, to be discharged through opening Ii, in the collar II and the junk discharge port 42. For this purpose motion of rotation is transmitted to the shaft 23 and thus to vane 24 by any suitable means, shown in Figure 5', for illustration, as a hand actuated crank 34.

To avoid excessive loss of material from the feed chamber 4 when operating a Junking device of this type during refining operation of the machine, the discharge opening 3| in collar 30 normally rests in a position out of register with the discharge or junk port 32. If the junker shaft 23 is rotated continuously, for example, where efficient operation requires continuous agitation and dislodging of the trash as it accumulates, the opening 3i will only periodically come into discharging register with port 32. However, for hand operation and in treating some kinds of material, it will be sufficient to give the shaft 23 enough turns from time to time to move the dislodged trash into discharging position with respect'to the opening. 3| and the discharge port 32. Under these circumstances, the length of time during and the frequency with which opening 3i and port 32 are maintained in register may be controlled by the operator.

From the foregoing description and stated mode of operation of the several types of junking apparatus illustrated in combination with certain portions of stuff treatment apparatus, it will be apparent that I have provided a conveniently operable and effective device for mechanically dislodging and expelling accumulated junk or trash out of obstructing position in relation to the treatment zone of a refining device with a minimum of loss of stock or material under treatment. In the particular forms of the device shown, the junker mechanism may be operated at any time during operation of the machine and without interfering therewith; or it can be operated when the machine is at rest, and even when there is no pressure upon thestock or material under treatment. In these several respects among others, the operation of the presently described apparatus diifers from that of the trash removal means shown in my first mentioned copending applications and in the joint patent of Tolman and Coghill previously referred to.

I claim:

1. In stuff treatment apparatus, the combination of a rotor, a feed chamber opening upon a segment of the peripheral surface of the rotor, a stator mounted to form a treatment zone with said peripheral surface of the rotor, said feed chamber having an opening positioned and adapted to pass particles too large or too refractory to effectively enter and pass through the treatment zone between the rotor and the stator, and means to control the passage of said particles through said opening.

2. In stuff treatment apparatus, the combination of means cooperating to form a treatment zone for treating material having particles of predetermined maximum dimensions, means for moving said material through said zone, means for feeding material into position to enter said zone, means for separating over-sized particles from said material, and means for discharging said separated particles.

3. In stuff treatment apparatus, the combina tion of means cooperating-to form a treatment zone for treating material having particles having a predetermined maximum dimension, means for moving said material through said zone, means for feeding material into position to enter said zone, means for separating over-sized particles from said material in advance of said zone, means for accumulating said separated over-sized particles, and means for discharging the accumulated separated particles.

4. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of said rotor to form a treatment zone, an inlet port for admitting material at the inlet end ofv said zone, and an outlet port positioned to pass obstructing material from.

- said inlet end of said zone.

5. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of said rotorto form a treatment zone, an inlet port for admitting material at the inlet end of said zone, an outlet port positioned to pass obstructing material from said.

inlet end of said zone, and means associated with said outlet port to expel obstructing material through said outlet port.

6. In material treating apparatus, the combination of 'a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of.said rotor to form a treatment zone, an inlet port for admitting material at the inlet end of said zone, an outlet port positioned to pass obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, and means to move obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone toward said outlet port.

'7. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with bination of a rotor and a stator cooperating withthe peripheral surface of said rotor to form a treatment zone, an inlet port for admitting material at the inlet end of said zone, an outlet port positioned to pass obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, and means to, move obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, including a plunger having a portion which, when the plunger is actuated, dislodges said ohstructing material from said inlet, and another portion cooperating with said outlet port to control the discharge of material through said outlet port.

9. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of said rotor to form a treatment zone, an inlet port for admitting material at the inlet end of said zone, and outlet port positioned to pass obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, and means to move obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, including a rotatable member having a plurality of radial vanes.

v 10. In a material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of said rotor to form a treatment zone, an inlet port for admitting material at the inlet end of said zone, an outlet port positioned to pass obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, and means to move obstructing material from said inlet end of said zone, including a screw conveyor and means to rotate said screw conveyor.

11. In material treating apparatus, the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of said rotor to form a treatment zone, means for feeding material through said treatment zone, means for separating over-sized or refractory particles from said 15 material, means for moving said separated particles, and an outlet port for the discharge of said separated particles and means for moving said particles towards said port.

12. In material treating apparatus,- the combination of a rotor and a stator cooperating with the peripheral surface of said rotor to form a treatment zone, means for feeding material thereto under pressure. means for separating from said material particles too large or too refractory to be passed through the treatment zone and to accumulate said separated particles in advance of said zone, means for dislodging said accumulation, and an outlet port through .which accumulated separated particles may be discharged.

CHARLES P. TOLMAN. 

